Kellan Parker, Gillian Rowland, Carly Preusse and Marilyn Jackson, from left, bring back an escaping spider during the Biology of Arachnids class at Starr Ranch in Bell Canyon. Students ages 10 to 13 participated in the week-long camp through the Junior Biologists program at the ranch.

Students look for spiders with Scott Gibson, assistant director of research and education at Starr Ranch, during the Biology of Arachnids class at the ranch in Bell Canyon.

Students transfer their spiders from the bug vacuum to a vial during the Biology of Arachnids class at Starr Ranch in Bell Canyon. The bug vacuum sucks up the spiders without killing them. The spiders are released after the students study them.

A Sac spider caught by students in the Biology of Arachnids class at Starr Ranch in Bell Canyon sits upside down in a petri dish for viewing under the microscope.

Carly Preusse, 13, of Rancho Santa Margarita touches an inchworm she found while looking for spiders during the Biology of Arachnids class at Starr Ranch in Bell Canyon.

Carson Preusse, 10, of Rancho Santa Margarita reviews the spiders he is likely to find during the Biology of Arachnids class at Starr Ranch in Bell Canyon. Students ages 10 to 13 participated in the week-long camp through the Junior Biologists program at the ranch.

Katelyn Crowley and Leila Yaghmaei, from left, look at some of the spiders they collected with Scott Gibson, assistant director of research and education at Starr Ranch during the Biology of Arachnids class at Starr Ranch in Bell Canyon.

Marilyn Jackson, 11, of Mission Viejo, left, uses a bug vacuum to collect spiders during the Biology of Arachnids class at Starr Ranch in Bell Canyon. The bug vacuum sucks up the spiders without killing them. The spiders are released after the students study them.

Katelyn Crowley, 13, from Mission Viejo shows an Orb weaver spider she caught during the Biology of Arachnids class at Starr Ranch in Bell Canyon.

Phillip Dowley, 14, of Mission Viejo looks through the microscope at the spiders he caught during the Biology of Arachnids class at Starr Ranch in Bell Canyon.

Kellan Parker, 13, of Irvine shows a spider she caught during the Biology of Arachnids class at Starr Ranch in Bell Canyon.

Katelyn Crowley and Leila Yaghmaei, from left, collect spiders during the Biology of Arachnids class at Starr Ranch in Bell Canyon.

TRABUCO CANYON – Katelyn Crowley couldn’t believe the size of the crab spider she found at the tip of a branch in the olive grove at Starr Ranch.

“He spread himself this big,” she said stretching the fingers out on her right hand. “He didn’t want to be vacuumed up.”

She and three other girls scrambled to get the spider into a vial so it could be added to others being studied as part of a first-time program to learn about arachnids.

Katelyn, 13, from Mission Viejo was one of 15 children ages 10 to 13 from across Orange County and San Diego County participating in a Junior Biologists program at the wildlife sanctuary located in Bell Canyon — a 4,000-acre preserve owned by the National Audubon Society. More than 200 children have participated in various Junior Biology programs in June and July.

The programs are geared to children ages eight to 16 and topics vary depending on the ages. Programs start with a general introduction to Starr Ranch, then animal study techniques, learning to use scientific methods, field work and in the case of the arachnids, a weeklong research project.

The Junior Biologists program is part of ongoing educational effort started by Sandy DeSimone, director of research and education. In 2000. DeSimone, a former teacher and naturalist, wanted to provide an opportunity for people to learn about the environment and its plants and animals. She started the programs as a way for people to have hands-on experience with nature.

“The goal is to keep them coming,” she said, citing a quote by Stephen Jay Gould which is posted above the sanctuary’s office door. “…For we will not fight to save what we do not love.”

Scott Gibson, Starr Ranch’s assistant director of research and education, launched the arachnid study to dispel some of the myths people have about spiders.

“It’s a relatively misunderstood group of animals,” he said. “There are so many myths and fears about spiders that are mostly unfounded.”

On Tuesday, the students split into smaller groups and constructed pitfall traps to catch spiders and other arachnids. They compared the amount and types of spiders that they shook out of native oak trees to ones found in a non-native olive grove.

To do this they held white shield-like devices called beat sheets and used a bug vacuum to suck them up and put them into vials. As the kids collected the spiders, Gibson made sure the study was accurate.

“This is science, you don’t get to decide what you want to count,” he said to a boy vacuuming up spiders from the ground.

“We’re focusing on arachnids in the two areas,” Gibson said. “Spiders are a good indicator of habitat quality because they are the top invertebrate predators. If you have a lot of spiders and good diversity, it’s an indication that the habitat is healthy.”

After the children collected the spiders they were chilled in a refrigerator so their body temperatures would drop and they’d become less active. Then it was all about identifying them and determining what family of spiders they belonged to.

Kellan Parker, 13, of Irvine huddle over a microscope with group members Gillian Rowland, 11, of Mission Viejo, Marilyn Jackson, 11, of Mission Viejo and Carly Peusse, 13, of Rancho Santa Margarita.

“That may be a jumping spider, look how furry it is,” Kellan said.

Kellan has been coming to Starr Ranch since she was 7, and wouldn’t consider spending her summer any other way.

“I want to be a field biologist,” she said. “I love nature. It’s neat to get all these animals and figure out what their habitats are like. You can figure out what the best habitats are.”

For Philip Dowley, 13, the program was a way to get over his arachnophobia. His mom signed him up, he said.

“It kind of makes me nervous,” he said trying to catch one. “I can barely put my hand over it. It’s a natural fear. It doesn’t creep me out but it worries me. It makes me feel like it could lash out. It’s not like you can be best friends with a spider.”

Erika Ritchie reports on South Orange County coastal communities, military issues and Camp Pendleton for the OC Register. She explores everything from coastal access, environmental issues and marine life to city government, animal welfare and quality of life. She’s won many awards including first place in news (2016) by the Orange County Press Club for her coverage of record numbers of whale entanglements off the California coast. Erika’s covered military change of command and seen military affairs firsthand from the sea aboard a battleship, air from a MV-22 Osprey, and land including Pendleton’s International war games and San Clemente Island’s ordnance ranges. Journalism allows Erika’s penchant for telling human stories of conflict, struggle and joy. Her monthly Everyday Hero feature does just that, highlighting achievements of some of Orange County’s most dedicated volunteers and non-profit leaders. Since joining the Register in 2001, she’s at times covered every city in South Orange County delving into development, housing, transportation, county government and social issues. She’s often written about Saddleback Church and Pastor Rick Warren’s emerging national and global roles. Erika’s passionate about animals and outdoor adventure. She runs, stand-up paddles and skis - both alpine and x-country. She frequents Mammoth Lakes and Mountain for hiking, biking & skiing and for her dogs to frolic in the snow and lakes. She grew up bilingual in German and conversational in French.

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